When Wild Florida opened their doors in 2010, it wanted to provide an unforgettable Everglades experience that promotes a connection with animals while inspiring education and conservation. Despite being best known for exciting Everglades airboat tours, Wild Florida opened their Gator Park as a way for people to learn about exotic animals found across the world along with educating them on native animals they might’ve seen in their backyard. Learn more about the enriching and interactive animal encounters and exhibits you can pet when you visit Wild Florida.
1. American alligator
During Wild Florida’s Exotic Animal Show, you’ll be able to learn about some of Florida’s native wildlife in an up-close animal demonstration from one of our animal trainers. After meeting the Wild Florida family members, you’ll be introduced to the head gator at Wild Florida: Fluffy! After the show, make sure to get your photo taken with him to remember the moment you can say you held a gator!
2. Two-toed sloths*
Famous for their sleepy nature and relatable moods, you have the opportunity to hang out with two-toed sloths in a few fun and interactive ways! Wild Florida offers two different sloth experiences for you to enjoy: a sloth encounter or a VIP Sloth Experience. For a separate cost, both of these experiences can take you into the exhibit with one of their sloth family members where you can meet them up close, feed them, receive an educational talk with one of our keepers, and of course, take a #slothie!
3. Goats and other farm animals
For all of our future farmers and ranchers out there, do we have a treat for you! InsideWild Florida’s Gator Park, you’ll find a small petting zoo filled with happy goats and other farm animals eager to meet you. But before you go in, make sure to pick up an animal cone so you can feed them a treat while you’re in there.
4. Albino Alligators
Just across the Wild Florida Gator Park, you’ll notice some rare creatures. Wild Florida is home to two unique albino gators, Snowflake and Blizzard! With less than 20 albino gators worldwide, you have a one-of-a-kind opportunity to interact with these gators. In their exhibit, you’ll get to learn some of the verbal cues used by Wild Florida’s “Croc Squad” and reward Snowflake and Blizzard with their favorite snacks as part of their daily enrichment program. Of course, this encounter is complete with photos to share this experience with everyone back home!
5. Ring-tailed lemurs*
Popularized by the movie Madagascar, ring-tailed lemurs are curious and playful animals that love to meet new people. For a separate cost, when you go on a ring-tailed lemur encounter, you’ll be able to meet these guys up close, take as many selfies with them as you want, receive an educational talk, and even go through an enrichment activity with them.
6. African-crested porcupine
Don’t let their spiky appearance scare you off from meeting and petting our three African-crested porcupines. During our African crested porcupine encounter, you’ll be able to go into their exhibit and pet Stella and Safari, as not all of their body is covered in quills. Along with petting them, you’ll be able to feed them their favorite snack (peanuts), learn more about their unique personalities, and even play with them!
7. VIP Reptile Encounter
Some of the coolest reptiles you’ll ever meet call Wild Florida home. With a Wild Florida VIP Reptile Encounter, you’ll meet albino gators, then snap photos with Wild Florida’s spokesgator, Fluffy, and even hang out with one of the biggest gators in Florida, Crusher! Your reptiletastic day continues with a trip through the Snake House where you can come face-to-face with native venomous snakes. You’ll then end your experience with feeding some gators inside Wild Florida’s Gator Park. No encounter is complete without snapshots to remember the coolest moments of your vacation!
Not only are these animals eager to meet you, but now is the perfect time to visit them! While the animal encounters are a separate charge, included in your encounter is admission to Wild Florida’s Gator Park. But don’t let the adventure stop at the Gator Park in Orlando. Make sure to book an Everglades airboat tour when you visit to get the
full Wild Florida experience and see what real, wild Florida is all about.
*Some of the animals listed on this blog are featured in our animal encounter experiences and have minimum age requirements.